Yesterday, we made a trip one whole province over(go figure) to check out the Moncton Famers Market, located in downtown Moncton.
I have a hard and challenging time explaining in any clarity and reasonable thought why I get all sweaty and excited about heading off on a Saturday morning to a market. Let alone a farmer's market in another province.
But, evidently, this is where we find ourselves.
First, in my width and breadth of worldly experience, Farmer's Markets are traditionally on Saturday mornings. Perhaps continuing in the very early afternoon, say 12 noon or 1:00pm. In more recent years, I've seen them operate say on a Thursday or maybe a Friday evening, and now on occasion we've been to those on a Sunday morning.
Fifty years ago, a Farmer's Market on a Sunday morning would have been pretty much blasphemous and often resulted in some sort of religious and zealot-type confrontation near the zucchini-relish and fresh-baked bread table. Not really. Likely all that would have transpired would have been a visit from the by-law department or police at worst. There would have been, definitely a scathing editorial write-up and opinion piece of "biblical proportions" and several letters to the editor in the local bi-weekly newspaper. Also, a few distraught and enthusiastic callers on the local AM radio station listener call-portion of the "Buddy McBuddy" morning show at 9:43am.
Nevertheless, Saturday is the "big day" in the universe of Farmer's Markets.
So, getting ourselves ready, we piled into the car and headed north and west about 90 minutes to Moncton. It was a beautiful winter's day in our area of the country. Blue skies and temperatures hovering around minus 10 degrees Celsius.
Next to the wonderful fresh vegetables and other foodie-related items always available at Framers Markets, I am simply enthralled by the atmosphere.
If the market is large enough and has a wide and excellent variety of vendors, the place will be packed. Filled with the busyness of folks scurrying to and fro; the smells of freshly baked bread and other baked goods; local organic meat selections; vendors giving away free samples of .....well just about anything delicious to eat; and the aromas of international foods being freshly prepared by the often many food/snack vendors. Not to mention the array of other vendors with homemade soaps; a local craft distillery or two; and hand-made clothing and jewelry, to name a few types of selections to be found.
To me, heading off to a Framer's Market is more than just going to get some fresh eatables for the upcoming week. It is an out-of-this-world adventure to experience. Perhaps a bit of an over-statement of reality, but you get the idea we're heading for here.
Although we spent about an hour there(perhaps a bit more), we ate some very authentic maritime fish cakes(definitely made by soaking the salt out of salted cod fish) and also some vegetarian Korean pancakes.
Now, Lynn IS NOT and I repeat IS NOT very adventurous when it comes to trying different foods. Especially international foods. Nevertheless, she tried a small sample of a vegetarian Korean pancake that a Korean food stall in the market was handing out. And much to my surprise, she quite enjoyed it.
After picking myself up off the floor given the shock of Lynn liking them, I went back and got us an order of Korean vegetarian pancakes. Who knew?
In addition, we also bought two butter croissants(one filled with chocolate and one regular). I had the butter one and oh........ was it good! we also picked up an artisanal loaf of cranberry-infused bread. That we'll get a start on today.
We also stopped and got some acrylic paints and canvas panels that were on sale at a large chain craft store.
So, in many respects, the day was just what we needed to do. Sunny blue skies; a day out; and good food and good company. Can't ask for more than that.
--as always with love--
--- get otudoors; find inspiration; discover yourself ---
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